Mario Party 8 is a party board game developed by Hudson Soft and released in 2007 for the Wii, marking the eighth mainline entry in the series and its first appearance on Nintendo's motion-control platform. Gameplay follows the traditional Mario Party formula of moving across themed boards and competing in minigames, but the Wii Remote's motion capabilities are central to the experience. Rather than relying on buttons or analog sticks, minigames ask players to point and shoot, shake, wave, turn, or twist the controller. Player-created Miis appear throughout the game, populating crowds, appearing in select minigames, and serving as playable characters in the Extra Mode. Progression rewards participants with Carnival Cards, a currency earned through board play, minigames, and the dedicated Star Battle Arena mode, which can then be redeemed to unlock figurines and additional game content.
